England U20 beaten 33-22 in JWC final


By RFU Press Release
June 27 2011

A spirited England Under 20 side were unable to complete their Italian job after suffering final heartache against New Zealand, losing 33-22 in Padova, Italy.

A spirited England Under 20 side were unable to complete their Italian job after suffering final heartache against New Zealand, losing 33-22 in Padova, Italy. A brutish display from Rob Hunter’s side ensured England were always within touching distance of their southern hemisphere rivals, but clinical finishing from the Baby Blacks cost England dear.

England’s three tries came from London Wasps wing Christian Wade, who grabbed a brace, and Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas. Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford kicked the other seven points.

England had started much the brighter of the two sides, displaying their intent from the off and took the lead with six minutes on the clock. A smart run by Saracens No. 12 Owen Farrell opened space up for Wade out wide, and when Farrell found the Wasps man, he made no mistake in going over for his sixth try of the competition, with Ford adding the extras to make it 7-0.

New Zealand almost hit back with 22 minutes played when a kick from Saracens full back Ben Ransom was charged down and the Kiwis forced the ball out wide, but an excellent cover tackle by Thomas pushed the player into touch and the try was disallowed by the TV Match Official.

However , they did get onto the scoreboard when South African referee Jaco Peyper penalised England for an offside in the same passage of play and fly half Gareth Anscombe scored to make the score 7-3. With the momentum in their favour, the Kiwis went over for their first try soon after, Charles Piutau scoring in the corner after Lima Sopoaga attacked the right hand side of the pitch where Worcester wing Andy Short lay injured, freeing up space to exploit.

Both sides then exchanged penalties to make the score 13-10 in New Zealand’s favour, and the Kiwi’s scored their second try of the game just before half time. Prop Ben Tameifuna forced his way over the try line, with Anscombe adding the extras to make the score 20-10 at half time.

England conceded a penalty early in the second half, Anscombe converting to make the score 23-10. Ford looked to reduce the deficit to ten with a penalty of his own, but his kick sailed marginally wide.

Just when New Zealand threatened to run away with the game, England began to dominate possession, causing New Zealand plenty of problems. England eventually turned their pressure into points when Thomas barged his way over the line to score a brilliant team try, making the score 23-17 after Ford’s conversion.

With 50 minutes on the clock, it was England’s turn to have a try disallowed. Worcester Warriors flanker Matt Kvesic dived over between the posts, but the TMO deemed the ball not to have been touched down.

England were certainly in the ascendancy at that point, and with the ball in hand always looked liked scoring. Their third try came on the hour through Wade, who kicked through to score after some excellent work by club mate Elliott Daly. Ford’s conversion would have given England the lead, but his kick went wide, leaving his side one point behond at 23-22.

A successful New Zealand penalty, again by Anscombe, soon after the restart made the score 26-22 and in the final ten minutes the Baby Blacks effectively put the game to bed when full back full back Beauden Barrett touched down a grubber to make the score 33-22. New Zealand then held out to win their fourth successive Junior World Championship.

Speaking after the game, England captain Alex Gray said that his side had a real chance in taking the trophy home: "It was a tough battle and I imagine it was quite good watching. We came here thinking we could take it and if things had been different way we could have done, but congratulations to New Zealand, they showed they are a class team and good luck to them.

“That was my last game in an England U20 jersey and it’s a shame we couldn’t end with a win, but we gave it everything and can be proud with ourselves, it’s been an honour playing with these lads. There’s no tomorrow for me, but I’m sure that the boys will give it their best shot next year. "

Points: Wade 2T, Thomas 1T ; Ford 2C, 1P.

England U20 team v New Zealand:

15) Ben Ransom (Saracens)
14) Andy Short (Worcester Warriors)
13) Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
12) Owen Farrell (Saracens)
11) Christian Wade (London Wasps)
10) George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
9) Chris Cook (Bath Rugby)
1) Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
2) Mikey Haywood (Northampton Saints)
3) Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
4) Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
5) Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
6) Sam Jones (London Wasps)
7) Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
8) Alex Gray (Captain) (Newcastle Falcons)

Replacements:

16) Rob Buchanan (Harlequins) on for Mikey Haywood 73 mins
17) Will Collier (Harlequins) on for Henry Thomas 61 mins
18) Sam Twomey (Harlequins) on for Matt Kvesic 75 mins
19) Matt Everard (Leicester Tigers) on for Same Jones 73
20) Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby) on for Chris Cook 61mins
21) Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby) on for Owen Farrell 49 mins
22) Marland Yarde (London Irish) on for Andy Short 43 mins

England U20 beaten 33-22 in JWC final
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 27/06/2011 11:18

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Match reaction: England U20 22-33 New Zealand U20
Posted by: England News (IP Logged)
Date: 28/06/2011 09:23


England U20 Head Coach Rob Hunter

“It’s sunk in that we aren’t the U20 World Champions, of course we’re still very disappointed but we’ve had a chance to reflect on what was an outstanding season for the lads – a 6 Nations Grand Slam and a Junior World Championship final is an outstanding effort.

“It was a frustrating game against New Zealand because we could have won it, but we didn’t execute a few of our chances and that’s what has cost us.

“A lot of these players won’t get the chance to play for the 20s again, but they’ve been an excellent group to work with. There have been some notable successes along the way, and I have no doubt that we’ll see a few of these lads in England jerseys in the future.

“What’s important now is that the lads who are with us next season use their experiences from this season to bring on the lads who will be coming through.”

Newcastle Falcons No. 8 and captain Alex Gray

“It was a really tough game, we knew that if we turned up then anything was possible and we ran them close. A couple of decisions didn’t go our way and we gave them a few openings, they’re a top class team and they punished us.

“We knew that it was there for us to take and we were full of confidence of winning the trophy, but it didn’t work out. That’s final rugby and it’s just the way it goes.

“On a personal note, that was my last game at England Age Grade level after playing for the U16s, U18s and U20s so it is a bit emotional. I’ve come through the ranks with a few of the boys, and I’m proud to have been on such a good journey with them."

Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford

“We’re gutted to be honest, the lads gave it everything but a few things didn’t go our way at crucial times and we have to live with that. We played well on the day, but they won and they’re champions - it's as simple as that.

“The lads have taken so much from the tournament though, and there’s no doubt that we’ll come out better players because of it. A lot of this squad are moving on, but it’s been awesome playing with them over the past few years.

The likes of Alex Gray and Mako Vunipola has been the heartbeat of the team and we’ll miss them, but there are some very good players coming through so we’ll do our best to go one better and win it next year. “

England player’s player of the tournament, Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)

“I think frustration sums up with mood within the camp, all of the boys are upset with the result but we pushed them very hard, some things didn’t go our way, and unfortunately the result was one of those things.

“We gave it our best shot, but they’re a class side with quality throughout their squad, but we came here to win, so obviously we’re massively disappointed.

“To be named players player of the tournament means a lot, particularly as it was chosen by my teammates, it’s something I’m really proud of, but it could have gone to any one of the lads – everybody played their part and gave their all, it’s just a shame that it wasn’t quite enough."

Gloucester Rugby scrum half Dan Robson

“We’re hugely disappointed, it was a massive blow to lose the final, but we’ll learn from it and hopefully become better players because of it. We played some really good rugby on the day, but key decisions at various points within the match have cost us, and that’s just the way it goes.

“New Zealand were clinical, and you can’t give them too many chances because they’ll punish you. You’ve got to perform from 1 to 22 on the day, and while we gave it absolutely everything, it wasn’t quite enough.

“I’ve got next year in the U20s, along with a few of the other lads, so we’ll use this experience and the pain to inspire us to go one better next year in South Africa.”

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